Page 14 of Jane's Story
“Crime scene?” Charles blinked. That was on point. Charles always seemed stunned when learning of other’s misdeeds. I hoped his naivete wouldn’t put him in danger in the future.
“Yes, the injection mark on his neck might be what killed him. But the syringe is missing, so someone else must’ve taken it.”
My stomach turned again. “So this was murder. That makes two at Haven Corp.”
Chapter 5
“Murder?”Charlesechoedmywords. “I don’t understand how that's possible.”
“This is the second murder at Haven Corp.” I shuddered. “Does this mean other employees are in danger?”
Detective Laurence didn’t answer the question. “We need to search you both before you can leave.”
The police checked to make sure we weren’t carrying the possible murder weapon. Afterward, I helped Charles gather the things they allowed him to take. We left his rooms and stood, dumfounded, in the corridor. “The suite you reserved for me has two bedrooms. Do you want to take one?”
“Are you comfortable with that?” He his brows rose at my suggestion, and the corner at one side of his mouth turned up.
It was admittedly unorthodox, but I didn’t care. Charles was a gentleman if nothing else. “It’s no problem,and your company is paying for the room. Plus, I’d rather not be alone in there if there is a killer on the loose. This is uncanny—Margery Blake and now Armond.”
Charles rubbed his hands down his arms, nodding. “It is strange. I mean, New York has a higher crime rate than Austen Heights. But this is far too coincidental for me.”
“Agreed.”
I helped drag a wheeled suitcase while Charles carried the rest of his bags to my suite next door. Still too stunned at the turn of events, we didn’t bother to unpack. I found a box of tea in the kitchen. “I’m going to make you some tea. Why don’t you sit for a minute?”
“Don’t trouble yourself.” Charles followed me into the kitchen and gently placed his hand on mine to stop me from lifting the kettle. For a moment, we froze in time, returning to Austen Heights, hiking through the back country, picking wild blueberries, and shooting photos of the sunset. I turned to look at his face, still unsure of what to make of this entire situation. Touching his hand reminded me of making our way back home in the dark, hand-in-hand, by the light of a flashlight. But without clarity about our relationship, I recoiled.
“Sorry.” He pulled his hand away, returned to the sitting room, and picked up the hotel phone. “Yes, I’d like afternoon tea service for two. Room 1702.”
“Thanks.” I replaced the tea bags and dropped onto the sofa beside him. Then I grabbed the thick cream cardigan I'd left on the armrest and pulled it around my shoulders. The whole ordeal left me chilled to the bone. “Though I don’t mind making tea.”
But Charles’s thoughts were elsewhere. “I’m struggling to comprehend why anyone wanted to hurt Armond. Did they say someone injected him with something?”
“Maybe they were mistaken,” I offered. “Although you know people can have secrets, sometimes big secrets that get them into trouble.”
“Secrets? I can’t see how…” He shook his head, and leaned forward, cupping his face in his hands. “It would be terrible if it has anything to do with Haven Corp. I’d hate to think we’d put him in danger.”
“I doubt it has anything to do with the company.” It wasn’t so much a lie as a hopeful idea. Charles was like sunshine, bringing light to everyone with no possibility of evil in his mind. The only problem with being sucha light, meant that he could be blind to darkness. “It’s not like you're all wrapped up in anything illegal.”
“Oh, absolutely not.” Charles’s ocean blue eyes widened, and he shook his head. “Certainly not that I'm aware of.”
“Maybe you didn’t know Armond as well as you thought,” I suggested. “He may have been involved in something. I mean, we are in Manhattan, and there are all sorts of possibilities here.”
Charles rubbed his temples. “Most people here are pretty decent. What I’m confused about is the injection mark. Did you notice anything unusual aside from Armond lying there? I wonder if there were any clues we missed.”
“There were a few things that seemed out of the ordinary. I snapped some photos as a precaution.” I pulled out my phone and showed him as I scrolled through the pictures. But I didn't mention the unidentified rage because my emotional readings usually just confused people. "Any idea if the blinds were drawn like that earlier in the day? It made the room so dark. The bathroom light is the only one that’s on, so I wonder if someone was hiding up there and attacked him from behind when he opened therestroom door. There are also the papers on the floor and the knocked-over lamp. So, I think there must have been a struggle. Right?”
“I think so. If the attacker caught him by surprise, they wouldn’t even have to be very strong. Maybe a brief struggle right after the injection.” Charles gazed toward the windows, and I wondered what my role in all of this was supposed to be. “It must’ve worked quickly though if all that happened was an overturned lamp and some spilled papers.”
“I suspect the police will figure that out pretty quickly with a toxicology report.” I turned off my phone and set it on the table next to me. “Charles, with Armond gone, I’ve actually finished my photography assignment, and I don’t know if Haven Corp actually needs me here any longer. I mean, I usually do my edits back at the studio and electronically send the requested photos.”
Charles’s eyes widened, and he shook his head. “Oh, no. I’m sure there are more things we’ll want.”
He made little sense. I could do nothing. “Such as? What I mean is… well, there have been two murders. The original person in my position and now the person who hired me, which makes me nervous. I don’t really have a legitimate reason for staying here any longer, and people might think it’s suspicious if I’m still here on the company’s dime.”
Charles stared at the floor, frowning. “I hadn’t thought about that. I guess I assumed you’d stay a bit longer. And yes, we have a policy about nonemployees and contractors. They aren’t allowed to be involved in private company matters, so I see your point. You know I have an idea, but it might seem absurd.”
Though I wasn’t sure there was much I could do, if he asked me to stay and help, I would. But I needed to be clear about why I was even there and how he saw me. “What’s your idea?”
